Means for and method of controlling the operation of picture and/or sound films



Oct. 8, 1935. s. MALuss ET AL "2,016,506 v MEANS FOR AND METHOD OFCONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF PICTURE AND/OR SOU ND FILMS Filed Jan. 17,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. MALUSS ET AL 2,016,506

. MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF PICTURE AND/0RSOUND FILMS Filed Jan. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 the practice at presentto put certain marks, such as dots, holes, scratches and othermutilations, on

- to another, each projection machine operator has Patented Oct. 8, 193;i

UNITED STATES PAT-ENV'IQOFFICE MEANS ron TAN'D ME'rnon or con- TROLLINGTHE ,orcmrron or morons AND/R soUNn FILMS I Stanley Maluss and Irving11. Yadwln,

- 1 Newark, N. J.

Application lanuary 17, 1935, Serial No. 2,206 eoiaims. (01. 177-311)This invention relates to a method of controlling the operation of filmsused in moving pictures, I whether or not the films are IO! silentpictures or in Figure 6; that is to say, the three films of sound, or acombination of both. Figure 6 are re-reeled onto one reel into a com Inthe operation of such films, where the pic-f pound film as shown inFigure 7. I ture, for example, requires a plurality of films, or Figure8 illustrates in plan diagrammatically more than can be readily placedon one reel, it is one of the films; for example A, of Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows a compound film composed of two of the films A and B ofFigure 6. Figure 10 isa compound film" made up of the 10 three films A,B and C of Figure 6. v

Figure 11 shows a part 01' the control mechanism for the-signal circuitshown in Figure 1, in the initial operating position of the compoundreel as shown in Figure '7.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, but showing the position ofthe actuating mecha nism of the control contact in another succeedingstep in the operation of the compound film of Figure 7. 1

Figure 13 shows the last step in the operation of part of the controlmechanism of Figure 1, or the succeeding step following those shown inFigures 11 and 12.

i v Figure 7 is a view 01a compound film comprising a plurality of theindividual films shown thefilm, to notify the operator that the film isnearing the end, so that he can start up certain mechanism on anotherprojecting machine, in order to bring in the film on the next projectormachine, thus making the least possible break on the screen between thetwo difierent reels of film.

. The operator-notification means as above mentioned, however, has notproven fully satisfactory for a number 'of reasons. One is that themutilation on the film is shown on the screen. Where filmsareinterchanged from one picture theatre his own markings ,that he prefersto use and he. mutilates the film, in many cases cutting out the oldmutilations, and adds his own markings with a consequent shortening ofthe film and even cutting out certain scenes that should be projectedFigure 14 shows a modified form of signal circuit arrangement.

In the various. views, wherein like numbers marking may be passing onthe screen, the opon the screen; Furthermore, at the instant this referto corresponding parts, I is a reel on which is wound a plurality offilm sections, for example the sections A, B and C of Figure 6, as theyare received from the film producer. It is the usual practice to furnishthese films in small reels which the operator re-reels onto one largereel into a compound filmas shown in Figures '7 and 10. Each of thesections A, B and C is provided with one or more notches 2 along oneedge and near the end of the film section. These notches comprise smallportions cut from the edge of the film in a very gradual ortaperedmanner as indicated in Figure 1', so thatthey are hardlyperceptible 40. ion the, screen, but yet sufiicient to causemo'vement ofa disc 3 carried on a 'l'lllb'4 supported in turn on a shaft or spindle5. The disc 3. may be rotatable on the shaft 5 together with acooperating disc 6 carried on its hub I supported on the same spindle 5.The discs 3 and 6' act to guide the film 8 as it comes from the reel.

The disc 3 is held in engagement with the edge of the film 8 by someresilient means as spring 9 so that when one of the notches 2 in thefilm comes to the disc 3, the same will move laterally toward the disc 6into the notch 2 engaging preferably an insulated head Hi on the end ofe a movable pin ll, causing it to engage a cooperating contact member l2connected in electrical circuit including a signal I3 which, inth formshown inFigure 1, is in the nature of a buzzer connected to thesecondary 'H or a low voltagetransformer l5 having a primary-l6 adaptedto be connected to any suitable source of current. Since I,

erators attention might be attracted elsewhere, so that he does not evensee the notification characters. While it has been proposedto make aswitch of the kind described automatic, we have found that the manualshift from one machine to the other will produce better results if theoperator is'properly warned or notified that the reel being shown onthe-screen is approaching its end.

It is therefore the principal object of our invention to provide asuitable control means and method of operation which will give the bestcontinuity in the operation of films and thereb produce a better effecton the screen.

vOur improvement in the control of film opera-' tion will be readilyunderstood by reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a schematic plan view of one means employed in carrying outour method of control.

Figure 2 is an enlarged View of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.a

1 Figure 3 is a viewon the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view ofone of thecontact mechanisms shown'in Figure l, but with the contact inclosed position. w l I Figure 5 is a view of the contact-operatingmechanism of Figure 4 shown in two positions.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of three independent films as receivedfrom the producer, each having notches along one edge thereoi near theand oi the film,

most of the lighting supply circuits at the present time are alternatingcurrent, we have shown the transformer i5 as the source of current forthe signal circuit, although it is obvious that any other satisfactorysource of current, such as a battery, may be substituted.

From what has been said, it is evident that in a film made up ofsections, the contact I! will be closed one or more times, depending onthe number of notches at the end of each of, the sections, but no signalwill be givenbecause the electrical circuit includes a second contact I!which is controlled by means dependent on the speed of rotation of thecompound reel shaft l8. As the speed of the film B, in feet per minute,is held constant, the reel shaft i8 turns rather slowly while the outerfilm section C is being unreeled. This is obvious because of the largerdiameter of the reel at this time. Therefore, as the film sections C andB, assuming that there are three sections all together on the reel l,are unreeled, no signal will be given because the contact ll remainsopen and does not close-until the speed of rotation of the shaft l8reaches a certain range within the limits of the last film section A andprior to the time that the first approachingnotch 2 reaches the disc 3.

Figures 11, 12 and i3 indicate diagrammatically the various positions ofa governing device l9 which may be in the form of acentrifugal governorhaving springs 20 and weights 2| acting on a member 22 to close thecontact I1; i'he governor l9 may be operated from the shaft 18 in anysatisfactory manner as by sprockets and different and distinct signals,thereby warning the operator to start the motor on the other projectorand to have things in readiness to cut in the. second machine at theproper time. i

In Figure 14, we have shown a visible signal 24 controlled by relay'25in place of the audible signal of Figure 1. Both types of signals may beused in combination if desired.

As shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the notches 2 are diagrammaticallyillustrated by the lines 2.

- The film sections are also indicated as having sound waves thereon,together with pictures", and as has been indicated, our invention isapplicable for use with one film section or a plurality thereof. Incertain cases, where only one film section is supplied by the producer,the control contact I! with the associated mechanism may be dis--pensedwith and the signal given direct by the contact l2.

From what has been said, it will be seen that we have worked out amethodof controlling the operation of films in which the priormutilation of the films is entirely eliminated, thereby saving theoperator's time in putting his signal markings on the films andeiIecting a further saving in the films themselves, and at the same timeeliminating the prior distasteful markings from the vision of the publicviewing the films. Furthermore, by giving the operator of the projectormachine timely and sufficient warning that the end of the film thenbeing shown is being reached, he is enabled to have the other projectormachine in condition to continue the picture being shown on the screenwith the least possible break in continuity, thus 5 inuring to thesmoothness of the presentation of the picture and to the bettersatisfaction of the public.

What we claim is:

1. Means, for controlling the operation of films 10 of the characterdescribed in which a compound film is made by reeling onto one largereel a plurality of film sections, said means including at least onenotch in the edge of and near the end of each of said film sections,electrical contact 15 members and an operating device therefor, saiddevice being actuated by said notch to close said contact members, anelectrical signal circuit having said contact members therein, and afurther contact in the electrical signal circuitwith means 20 forclosing the contact only when the last film section has been reached,whereby the first-mentioned contact members on being closed by one ofsaid notches in the last section will cause the signal in the saidcircuit to operate.

2, Means for controlling the operation of films as set forth in claim 1,characterized in that said second-mentioned contact is controlled bymeans dependent "on the revolution speed of said large reel. 3. Meansfor controlling the operation of films as set forth in claim 1,characterized in that said second-mentioned contact is controlled by acentrifugal governor operated by the rotation of said large reel. I

4. Means for controlling the operation of films as set forth in claim 1,characterized in that said first-mentioned contact is operated by a discmember resiliently held in engagement with that edge of the filmhavingthe notches therein.

5. Means for controlling the operation of films of the characterdescribed in which a compound film is made by reeling onto one largereel a plurality of film sections, said means including at least onenotch in the .edge of and near the end 45 of at least the inner filmsection, a member resiliently held in engagement with that edge of thefilm having the notch therein, a signal circuit, an electrical contactin said circuit closed by said member when said member passes into saidnotch as the film travelsofi the reel, and a second electrical contactin said circuit held open by means operated when the large reel isturned until at a time after the inner section of the compound film isreached, but closed before said first contact is closed. i

6. Means for, controlling the operation of a film including a notch inthe edge of the film, a member resiliently held in engagement with thatedge of the film having the notch therein, a signal circuit having anelectrical contact closed by said member when it passes into said notchas the film travels off its reel, and a second electrical contact insaid circuit for controlling the actuation of the signal in saidcircuit, said second contact being closed only when the rotation of thefilm reel reaches a predetermined high range and before said firstcontact is closed as and for the purpose described.

